Valve and mounting

ABSTRACT

A valve for discharging the pressurized contents of a container and including a valve stem having extending from its outer surface a flexible flange or membrane, and a sealing ring butting against the membrane on the upper side thereof, the sealing ring and the membrane being clamped against an open mouth of the container by an annular retainer which encircles the peripheral portions of the sealing ring and membrane and is attached to the container. In one embodiment, a second sealing ring is interposed between the membrane and the mouth of the container, and in another embodiment the peripheral portions of the first sealing ring and the membrane are clamped directly against the mouth of the container. The membrane has a relatively thin, flexible portion shaped to urge a sealing portion of the valve stem against the sealing ring to provide a seal. The valve stem has at least one opening within and blocked by the sealing ring, and also has means to allow pressurized contents of the container to be introduced into a space between the sealing ring and the membrane. When the valve stem is pushed, either by depressing it or tilting it, the sealing ring is bent to uncover the valve stem opening within the same, thus allowing the container contents to be discharged.

nite States at t [72] Inventors Erich W. Gronemeyer 2100 S. Ocean Lane, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33316;

Louis F. Kutik, 8720 S. W. 23rd Place, lFort Lauderdale, Fla. 33312 [21] Appl. No. 831,374

[22] Filed June 9, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 19, 1971 [54] VALVE AND MOUNTING 3,088,682 5/1963 Venus,Jr 1,. 222 402.21x 3,248,015 4 1966 DeGiorgi... 222 402.24x 3,508,689 4 1970 Webster 222 402.24

Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examinerlohn P. Shannon, J r. Attarney-Settle and Oltman ABSTRACT: A valve for discharging the pressurized contents of a container and including a valve stem having extending from its outer surface a flexible flange or membrane, and a sealing ring butting against the membrane on the upper side thereof, the sealing ring and the membrane being clamped against an open mouth of the container by an annular retainer which encircles the peripheral portions of the sealing ring and membrane and is attached to the container. In one embodiment, a second sealing ring is interposed between the membrane and the mouth of the container, and in another embodiment the peripheral portions of the first sealing ring and the membrane are clamped directly against the mouth of the container. The membrane has a relatively thin, flexible portion shaped to urge a sealing portion of the valve stem against the sealing ring to provide a seal. The valve stem has at least one opening within and blocked by the sealing ring, and also has means to allow pressurized contents of the container to be introduced into a space between the sealing ring and the membrane. When the valve stem is pushed, either by depressing it or tilting it, the sealing ring is bent to uncover the valve stem opening within the same, thus allowing the container contents to be discharged.

PATENTEnnm 19 I87! FIGLZ [24 SHEET 16F 3 IYIIIIIIIIII, 46 gm INVENTQRE ERICH W.GRONEM Y R LOUIS F. KUTIK M Mam PATENTEDucT 19 mi SHEET 3 BF 3 FIG, .14

INVENTORS ERICH W. GRONEMEYER LOUIS F. KUTIK VALVE AND MOUNTING RELATED APPLICATION This application is related to an earlier-filed application, Ser. No. 733,70l, filed on May 31, 1968, now Pat. No. 3,52l,859, by Erich W. Gronemeyer, one of the present inventors.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an aerosol valve that is particularly well suited for use on special neck containers without requiring a separate coated annular part for attaching the valve to the mouth of the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve having relatively few parts which can be attached directly to the mouth of a container to be used in discharging pressurized contents of the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve of the type described in the copending application referred to above for attachment directly to the mouth of a container.

Another object of the invention is to provide'a valve, and particularly a valve stem having a relatively thin membrane extending radially outward therefrom and shaped so that when the valve stem is assembled with a sealing ring, the membrane produces a pressure which holds a sealing portion of the valve stem in sealing contact with the sealing ring, the membrane also having a thicker portion which tends to confine bending of the membrane to the relatively thin portion thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve with a valve stem as described in the last preceding paragraph in which the peripheral portions of the sealing ring and the membrane are clamped against the mouth of a container by an annular retainer.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a valve of the type discussed above wherein a second sealing ring is interposed between the membrane and the mouth of the container to provide a sealed connection between the valve and the mouth of the container.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

ON THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a container provided with a valve in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the valve and the mouth of the container of FIG. 1 taken along 22 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, the valve being shown in this case in condition it assumes just before it is clamped to the mouth of the container;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the valve of FIG. 2 but showing the valve after it has been clamped to the mouth of the container;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view, partly cut away, of the valve stem unit of the valve;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 41 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the valve in an actuated or valve-open position;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a container having a alve at the top thereof which constitutes another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows, the valve being shown in the condition which it assumes just before it is attached to the mouth of the container;

FIG. Ill is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 9, but showing the valve as it appears after it is attached to the container;

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 10, but showing the valve in an actuated or valve-open position;

FIG. 12 is an elevational view of a container having a valve at the top thereof which constitutes still another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional of FIG. 12;

FIG. M is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 13, but showing the valve in an actuated or valve-open position; and

FIG. 15 is a vertical sectional view of a valve wherein at least one vent opening is provided in a sealing ring of the valve.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

It is common practice in the manufacture of aerosol valves to attach the valve to the mouth of a container by means of a cup which is coated with a sealing material to provide a sealed joint between a portion of the valve and the cup. Since the coating of the cup and the use of a separate cup element of this type is a substantial cost in the total cost of the valve, it would be quite desirable to eliminate the cup and attach the valve directly to the mouth of the container.

The copending application referred to above discloses a valve which is made of relatively few parts and which provides unusually good aerosolizing action. This valve may be used in other applications, for example, to dispense foam or a liquid stream.

The present invention is a valve which utilizes the features and advantages of the valve of the copending application, and which also may be attached directly to the mouth of a container, thus making it possible to produce a line of valves which are particularly suitable for containers having mouths of special design.

FIGS. 1 through 7 illustrate one embodiment of the valve of the invention as applied directly to the mouth of a container 20. The container has a mouth 22 which in this case is a rolled edge on the neck of the container. The valve 24 is attached directly to the mouth 22 of the container by means of an annular retainer member 26 which is shown in a released condition in FIG. 2 and in a clamped position in FIG. 3.

The valve 24 includes a valve stem 28 which is at least partly hollow, and in this embodiment is a generally tubular member made of plastic material. The upper portion of the valve stem 28 projects through an opening 30 in the retainer member 26, and the lower portion of the valve stem 28 extends downwardly into the container. A dip tube may be attached to the lower extremity of the valve stem 28 so that the contents of the container will be forced through the valve when the valve is actuated.

The valve stem 28 has a membrane 32 extending radially therefrom and having a peripheral portion 3 8 which overlies and contacts the mouth 22 of the container. The valve stem 28 and its membrane 32 are preferably molded as one piece from plastic material.

The membrane 32 has a relatively thin portion with a circular bend at 36 shaped to provide a space at 38 and also to be readily bendable so that the membrane can be distorted. The membrane also has a thicker portion 40 between portion 36 and portion 34 which is relatively rigid so that when the valve stem is depressed, distortion of the membrane tends to occur nearly entirely in the relatively thin portion 36. The thin portion 36 may be connected directly to the main body of the valve stem 28, or there may be another thicker portion such as that shown at 42.

A yieldable sealing ring 44 abuts against the membrane 32 at the thick portion 40 thereof, and has a peripheral portion 46 which directly overlies the mouth 22 of the container. The

view taken along line 13-l3 peripheral portions 34 and 46 are clamped together and against the mouth 22 of the container by the retainer element 26 when it is swedged into the depression 48 in the manner shown in FIG. 3.

The sealing ring 44 has a central opening 50 therein, and within this opening there is at least one opening 52 extending through the wall of the hollow valve stem 28, the opening 52 normally being blocked by the inner edge of the sealing ring 44. The valve stem 28 has a sealing flange 54 which is biased against the sealing ring 44 by the pressure produced by the membrane 32 when this membrane is distorted slightly as the valve is assembled to the top of the container in the manner shown in FIG. 3. This pressure of the membrane 32 holds the flange 54 against the sealing ring to assure that a seal is provided blocking the entrance to the opening or openings 52. There are two openings 52 in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, and as shown in FIG. 5.

Another opening or set of openings 56 is formed through the wall of the valve stem 28 leading from the interior of the valve stem to the space 38. The interior of the valve stem is blocked between openings 52 and 56 by a blocking portion 58 of the valve stem.

As previously mentioned, when the valve 24 is assembled onto the mouth of the container and attached to the mouth 22 by means of the retainer element 26 being swedged to the depression 48, the membrane 36 is put into tension or in other words is distorted so as to bias the sealing flange 54 against the sealing ring 44 in the manner shown in FIG. 3. Then in order to actuate the valve, the valve stem is depressed to the position shown in FIG. 7. The valve stem 28 has a tapered portion at 60 which pushes the sealing ring 44 downwardly, causing it to bend in the manner shown in FIG. 7, and the inner edge about the opening 50 moves away from the openings 52 to allow the contents of the container to be discharged. The thick portion 40 of the flange or membrane 32 supports the outer portion of ring 44 so that only the inner portion thereof bends, and this helps to assure that the inner edge at 50 will move away from the openings 52. As shown in FIG. 7 by means of arrows, the container contents flows through tubular stem portion 28, openings 56, space 38, openings 52, tubular stem portion 28 and a small opening 62 in a cap 64 which may be attached to the top of the valve stem. The openings 56 are preferably smaller than the openings 52 so that openings 56 act as a strainer to remove particles from the material being discharged. When the valve stem is released, the resiliency or elasticity of the membrane 32 causes the valve stem and the sealing ring to return to their valve-closed position shown in FIG. 3.

It may be noted that before assembly, the sealing flange 54 is offset above portions 40 and 34 of the membrane, and the distance of this offset can be varied in manufacture to set the pressure of flange 54 against ring 44 after assembly.

It may also be noted that the valve may be actuated to a partially open condition by merely tilting the valve stem so as to open only one of the openings 52. This is described more fully in the copending application referred to above.

FIGS. 8 through 11 illustrate an embodiment of the invention which is very similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7, and therefore the same reference numerals are used for like parts. The only difference between these two embodiments is that in FIGS. 9 through 11, the membrane 32 is provided with an upwardly extending annular hump or annular projection 65 which tends to press into the sealing ring 44 as shown in FIG. 10 when the valve is fully assembled, thus assuring that a good sealed connection between the valve and the container mouth 22 exists. Since the valve of FIGS. 8 through It is so very nearly identical to the valve of FIGS. I through 7, the description of the valve and its operation will not be repeated.

FIGS. 12 through 14 illustrate another embodiment of the invention which is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. I through 7, so the same reference numerals are used for like parts. The main difference of the embodiment of FIGS. 12-14 as compared with the other embodiments is that a separate second sealing ring 66 is interposed between the membrane 32 and the mouth 22 of the container to assure that a good sealed connection between the valve and the container mouth exists. Otherwise, the embodiment of FIGS. 12 through 14 is so nearly identical to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 7 that the description of the construction and operation will not be repeated.

FIG. 15 shows a modification of the embodiment of FIGS. 12-14. In this modification, the sealing ring 66 has a vent opening 68 to allow equalization of pressure when the valve is actuated. In the embodiment of FIGS. 12 through 14, this equalization of pressure is achieved by making the opening 70 substantially larger than the valve stem 28. The ring 66 may assist membrane 32 in returning the valve stem.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that the valve of the invention has relatively few parts, can be manufactured economically, and is particularly well suited for attachment directly to the mouth of containers having a specially designed neck. It is not necessary to use a separate coated annular part to provide a connection between the value and the mouth of the container, and thus' the relatively expensive coating of such annular parts for sealing purposes is eliminated.

Having thus described out invention, we claim:

1. An aerosol valve and container assembly wherein the valve is clamped directly to an open mouth of the container without the use of a cup between the valve and the container mouth, said assembly comprising:

a. a container for pressurized material to be dispensed through a valve, said container having an open mouth at the top thereof for receiving in direct engagement therewith the peripheral portions of an aerosol valve,

b. an aerosol valve affixed directly on said container mouth comprising 1. a yieldable sealing ring having a central opening therein, and

2. a valve unit comprising a hollow valve stem extending through said sealing ring and a membrane connected to and extending radially outward from a part of said valve stem,

3. an annular retainer member having a flange portion overlying said sealing ring and a skirt portion extending downwardly from said flange portion and sealingly clamping said sealing ring and said membrane together and downwardly against said container mouth without the use of any cup portions intervening between said skirt and said container mouth,

4. said valve stem having means blocking the interior thereof below said sealing ring and having at least one opening therein normally blocked by said sealing ring,

5. said valve stem having means forming a path from said container to a space between said sealing ring and said membrane,

6. and said valve stem further having a tapered surface extending downward into said sealing ring and a sealing surface below and normally in contact with said sealing ring for blocking the container contents from said opening,

7. said valve stem being depressible to cause said tapered surface to bend said sealing ring away from said opening and said sealing surface, thereby uncovering said opening to discharge container contents, with said membrane being sufficiently elastic to return said valve stem to a valve closed position,

8. said sealing ring and said membrane both extending radially outwardly relative to said valve stem so that the peripheral portions thereof are adjacent to said container mouth and said peripheral portion of said membrane physically contacts said container mouth, said retainer member serving to clamp said peripheral portions together and against said container mouth with said membrane shaped peripherally to provide a reduced tip which fits relative to said container mouth to form a sealed connection between said valve and said container mouth without the use of any intervening cup or coating,

9. said membrane having a relatively thin, resilient portion located between said stem and said peripheral por- 5. said valve stem having means forming a path from said container to a space between said sealing ring and said tion distortable to allow actuation of said valve member 5 membrane, to discharge container contents and returnable to urge 6, and said valve stem further having a tapered surface exsaid valve stem to the valve-closed position, tending downward into said sealing ring and a sealing l0. and said membrane having a relatively thick portion surface below and normally in contact with said sealing between said thin portion and said peripheral portion ring for blocking the container contents from said and extending radially under and in contact with said 10 opening, sealing ring, said thick portion being substantially 7. said valve stem being depressible to cause said tapered thicker than said thin portion and less bendable so that surface to bend said sealing ring away from said opendistortion of said membrane occurs in said thin portion ing and said sealing surface, thereby uncovering said and bending of said sealing ring occurs inwardly of said opening to discharge container, contents, with said thick portion where said sealing ring is not supported membrane being sufficiently elastic to return said valve by said thick portion, stem to a valve closed position, 2. The valve and container assembly as claimed in claim 1 in 8. a second yieldable sealing ring interposed between the which said peripheral portion of said membrane is tapered. peripheral portion of said membrane and said con- 3. An aerosol valve and container assembly wherein the tainer mouth, said second sealing ring being clamped valve is clamped directly to an open mouth of the tai together with said first sealing ring and said membrane without the use of a cup between the valve and the container against e C nt in r month by Said retainer member, mouth, said assembly om risin 9. said membrane having a relatively thin, resilient pora. a container for pressurized material to be dispensed i n located b w n id Stem an aid peripheral porthrough a valve, said ontainer ha in an o e th at tion distortable to allow actuation of said valve member the to thereof for re eiving i di t engagement to discharge container contents and returnable to urge therewith the peripheral portions of an aerosol valve, Said Valve Stem the Valve-Closed Position, b. an aerosol valve affixed directly on said container mouth and i m r n h ving a r l ively hi k portion comprising between said thin portion and said peripheral portion 1. a ieldable ealin in havin a entral o i and extending radially under and in contact with said therein, and sealing ring, said thick portion being substantially 2. a valve unit comprising a hollow valve stem extending h t h i thin ortion n l ben bl so hat through said sealing ring and a membrane connected to dlstomm, of 531d F Pccurs m f mm and extending radially outward from a part of said of Sam sealmg f ocf:urs mwardly of 51nd Valve Stem, thick portion where said sealing ring IS not supported 3. and an annular retainer member having a flange porby Sam thck Pomon' 4. The valve and container assembly as claimed in claim 3 tion over] in said sealin rin and a skirt ortion ex y g g g p wherein said valve stem pro ects through the inner edge of tending downwardly from said flange portion and sealingly clamping said sealing ring and said membrane Second sealmg together and downwardly against said container mouth Theflfllve and nt m r assembly as claimed in claim in without the use of any cup portions intervening 40 WhlCl'l said second sealing ring has at least one vent opening between said skin and said container mouth therein between the inner and outer edges thereof. 4. said valve stem having means blocking the interior 

1. An aerosol valve and container assembly wherein the valve is clamped directly to an open mouth of the container without the use of a cup between the valve and the container mouth, said assembly comprising: a. a container for pressurized material to be dispensed through a valve, said container having an open mouth at the top thereof for receiving in direct engagement therewith the peripheral portions of an aerosol valve, b. an aerosol valve affixed directly on said container mouth comprising
 1. a yieldable sealing ring having a central opening therein, and
 2. a valve unit compRising a hollow valve stem extending through said sealing ring and a membrane connected to and extending radially outward from a part of said valve stem,
 3. an annular retainer member having a flange portion overlying said sealing ring and a skirt portion extending downwardly from said flange portion and sealingly clamping said sealing ring and said membrane together and downwardly against said container mouth without the use of any cup portions intervening between said skirt and said container mouth,
 4. said valve stem having means blocking the interior thereof below said sealing ring and having at least one opening therein normally blocked by said sealing ring,
 5. said valve stem having means forming a path from said container to a space between said sealing ring and said membrane,
 6. and said valve stem further having a tapered surface extending downward into said sealing ring and a sealing surface below and normally in contact with said sealing ring for blocking the container contents from said opening,
 7. said valve stem being depressible to cause said tapered surface to bend said sealing ring away from said opening and said sealing surface, thereby uncovering said opening to discharge container contents, with said membrane being sufficiently elastic to return said valve stem to a valve closed position,
 8. said sealing ring and said membrane both extending radially outwardly relative to said valve stem so that the peripheral portions thereof are adjacent to said container mouth and said peripheral portion of said membrane physically contacts said container mouth, said retainer member serving to clamp said peripheral portions together and against said container mouth with said membrane shaped peripherally to provide a reduced tip which fits relative to said container mouth to form a sealed connection between said valve and said container mouth without the use of any intervening cup or coating,
 9. said membrane having a relatively thin, resilient portion located between said stem and said peripheral portion distortable to allow actuation of said valve member to discharge container contents and returnable to urge said valve stem to the valve-closed position,
 10. and said membrane having a relatively thick portion between said thin portion and said peripheral portion and extending radially under and in contact with said sealing ring, said thick portion being substantially thicker than said thin portion and less bendable so that distortion of said membrane occurs in said thin portion and bending of said sealing ring occurs inwardly of said thick portion where said sealing ring is not supported by said thick portion.
 2. a valve unit compRising a hollow valve stem extending through said sealing ring and a membrane connected to and extending radially outward from a part of said valve stem,
 2. a valve unit comprising a hollow valve stem extending through said sealing ring and a membrane connected to and extending radially outward from a part of said valve stem,
 2. The valve and container assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which said peripheral portion of said membrane is tapered.
 3. An aerosol valve and container assembly wherein the valve is clamped directly to an open mouth of the container without the use of a cup between the valve and the container mouth, said assembly comprising: a. a container for pressurized material to be dispensed through a valve, said container having an open mouth at the top thereof for receiving in direct engagement therewith the peripheral portions of an aerosol valve, b. an aerosol valve affixed directly on said container mouth comprising
 3. and an annular retainer member having a flange portion overlying said sealing ring and a skirt portion extending downwardly from said flange portion and sealingly clamping said sealing ring and said membrane together and downwardly against said container mouth without the use of any cup portions intervening between said skirt and said container mouth,
 3. an annular retainer member having a flange portion overlying said sealing ring and a skirt portion extending downwardly from said flange portion and sealingly clamping said sealing ring and said membrane together and downwardly against said container mouth without the use of any cup portions intervening between said skirt and said container mouth,
 4. said valve stem having means blocking the interior thereof below said sealing ring and having at least one opening therein normally blocked by said sealing ring,
 4. said valve stem haVing means blocking the interior thereof below said sealing ring and having at least one opening therein normally blocked by said sealing ring,
 4. The valve and container assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said valve stem projects through the inner edge of said second sealing ring.
 5. The valve and container assembly as claimed in claim 4 in which said second sealing ring has at least one vent opening therein between the inner and outer edges thereof.
 5. said valve stem having means forming a path from said container to a space between said sealing ring and said membrane,
 5. said valve stem having means forming a path from said container to a space between said sealing ring and said membrane, 6, and said valve stem further having a tapered surface extending downward into said sealing ring and a sealing surface below and normally in contact with said sealing ring for blocking the container contents from said opening,
 6. and said valve stem further having a tapered surface extending downward into said sealing ring and a sealing surface below and normally in contact with said sealing ring for blocking the container contents from said opening,
 7. said valve stem being depressible to cause said tapered surface to bend said sealing ring away from said opening and said sealing surface, thereby uncovering said opening to discharge container contents, with said membrane being sufficiently elastic to return said valve stem to a valve closed position,
 7. said valve stem being depressible to cause said tapered surface to bend said sealing ring away from said opening and said sealing surface, thereby uncovering said opening to discharge container, contents, with said membrane being sufficiently elastic to return said valve stem to a valve closed position,
 8. a second yieldable sealing ring interposed between the peripheral portion of said membrane and said container mouth, said second sealing ring being clamped together with said first sealing ring and said membrane against the container mouth by said retainer member,
 8. said sealing ring and said membrane both extending radially outwardly relative to said valve stem so that the peripheral portions thereof are adjacent to said container mouth and said peripheral portion of said membrane physically contacts said container mouth, said retainer member serving to clamp said peripheral portions together and against said container mouth with said membrane shaped peripherally to provide a reduced tip which fits relative to said container mouth to form a sealed connection between said valve and said container mouth without the use of any intervening cup or coating,
 9. said membrane having a relatively thin, resilient portion located between said stem and said peripheral portion distortable to allow actuation of said valve member to discharge container contents and returnable to urge said valve stem to the valve-closed position,
 9. said membrane having a relatively thin, resilient portion located between said stem and said peripheral portion distortable to allow actuation of said valve member to discharge container contents and returnable to urge said valve stem to the valve-closed position,
 10. and said membrane having a relatively thick portion between said thin portion and said peripheral portion and extending radially under and in contact with said sealing ring, said thick portion being substantially thicker than said thin portion and less bendable so that distortion of said membrane occurs in said thin portion and bending of said sealing ring occurs inwardly of said thick portion where said sealing ring is not supported by said thick portion.
 10. and said membrane having a relatively thick portion between said thin portion and said peripheral portion and extending radially under and in contact with said sealing ring, said thick portion being substantially thicker than said thin portion and less bendable so that distortion of said membrane occurs in said thin portion and bending of said sealing ring occurs inwardly of said thick portion where said sealing ring is not supported by said thick portion. 